Splice bar or fishplate



Dec. 2, 1930. L. s. WILBUR 1,783,352

SPLICE BAR OR FISH PLATE Filed June 24, 1929 Patented Dec. 2, 1930 OFFWE f LAwnianoE s. wrnnun, orv nirnnsroiv, JILLINQIS srLIcE nan. onrIs rLA'rE 1 Application filed e 24,

' This invention relates to splice bars or fish plates for rail joints.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide asplice bar or fish plate of 6 novel and improved form and construction,

having an inwardly curved or bulged middle portion disposed between two straight end portions, which end portions are disposed at an angle to eachother, whereby the splice bar or tisa plate is adapted for use on old rails that have been worn and distorted by use.

' It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction tending to increase the general efficiency and desirability of a splice bar or fish plate of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the

invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accom- 0 panying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a splice bar or fish plate embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 52. is a similar View showing a different form of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a. different form of the invention.

Fig. i is a side. elevation of one of said bars. Fig. 5 is an end view, on a larger scale, of the bar shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Fig. 6 is an end view, on a larger scale, of the bar shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Fig. 7 is an end view, on a larger scale, of the bar shown inFig. 3 of the drawings.

As thus illustrated, and with reference to Figs. 1, 4:, and 5, it will be seen that the splice bar comprises an upright portion or web 1, provided with a top or head 2, and with a heel 3 forming afoot for the bar. The flange 1 is integral with the heel. 3 and extends downwardly and outwardly as shown. The center of the bar is provided with an inwardly curved or bulged middle portion 5, the entire middle portion of the bar being thus curved or bulged inwardly from top to bottom thereof. The end portions 6 of the web and the heel are straight and in exact alignment with each other, it will beseen, but the straight end 1929, Serial No. 373,287.

portions 7 :oflthe top or head of the 'bar. are

disposed at'an angle to each other as shown. In this way the upper straight end portions 7 extend away from the rails, .and the conse-. qence is that a bar of this kind will efi'ective- .ly engage old and worn or distorted rails.

InFig. 2 the construction is similar, but in this "case the entire barfrom top to bottom thereof, at its ends, extends away-from 'thei rails, so thatthe entire straight end portion 8 atone end'of the bar is at an angle to the. entire straight end portion 8 ,at the other end of the bar,- with the inwardly curved or bulged middle"portion"between'them.

In 3 the construction is similar, but in this case the straight end portions 10 of th'e flange of the barare disposed at an angle to each other, while the straight end portions 11 onthe top or head of the bar are inexact alignment with eachv other, whereby the head or top of thebar overhangs the heel portion thereof at'the oppositelends of the bar, as illustrated in Fig. (of the drawings, and the entire middle portion12 of the bar is curved or bulged-inwardly as shown Thus, in each form of the invention, there is an inwardly curved or bulged middle portion between straight end portions, which end portions are disposed at an angle to.

each other. 1 In one form of theinvention the straight end portions may be the top or head' of the;bar,jand in. another form of theinvention such straight end portions maybe the flange, and in the third-form of the invention the two straightlend portions may be the entire bar at-each. sideof the curved inwardly bulged" middle portion. Each form ofthe'invention is adaptedto fit old and worn or distorted rails and especially old rails on which the fishing height has been increased at the adjoining ends of therails, by'the pounding of the car wheels, as this has a tendency toFflatten the heads" or treads of the rails at thejoint. The inwardly curved or bulged middle portion of the-bar will fit in closeto the webs of? the'rails, where the fishing height of the rails has been somewhat increased, and: the end portions of the bar,-eith'er at the top or at the bottom thereof, or both, will be farther away from the sides of the rails, when the rail joint bolts are tightened to clamp the splice bars or fish plates tightly in place at opposite sides of the rail joint.

As shown, the splice bar, in each form of the invention, is of uniform fishing height throughout the length thereof. The bars shown and described may be new bars, or they may be old bars re-shaped and reformed. If necessary or desirable, the fishing height of the bar can be increased a little, when it is being re-shaped or reformed, as by reducing the thickness of the" web of the bar or in any suitable or desired manner. The fishing height on the rails increases not only at the ends thereof, sometimes, but also to some extent throughout the entire length of the fish plates. Therefore, when splice bars or fish plates are put on such old and worn rails it is of some advantage if the fishing height of each bar is a little greater than that of the original bar, when the bars are made by re-shaping or re-forming old bars. On the other hand, if the bars shown and described are new bars, never before used, the fishing height can still be somewhat greater than the height of the bars which were originally on the joint, to make allowance for the worn and distorted condition of the rails. If the ends of any bar be sprung in by the tightening of the bolts, obviously the middle portions of the bar will tend to spring inwardly to take up wear.

It will be seen that the different forms of the invention can be used in the same unitary structure, and in combination with each other, as two different forms of bar can be used on the same rail joint, if necessary or desirable, and the different forms of splice bar shown and described canbe used on successive rail joints in the same general rail structure, depending upon the worn or distorted condition of the rails. Thus all the bars are adapted to co-operate with each end portions comprising the top or head of the splice bar or fish plate.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, said end portions comprising the bottom flange of the splice bar or fish plate.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1, said end portions comprising both the top and the bottom portions of said splice bar or fish plate.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1, said splice bar or fish plate being of uniform fishing height throughout the length thereof.

6. A structure as specified in claim 1, said end portions comprising the top or head of the bar, the bottom portions of the bar at each side of said curved or bulged portion being straight and in exact alignment with each other.

7. A structure as specified in claim 1, said end portions comprising the flange or bottom portions of the bar, the portions of the top or head at each side of the curved or bulged portion being straight and in exact alignment with each other.

Specification signed this 21st day of June,

LAWRENCE S. VVILBUR. 

